Effects of Chalkiness on Cooking,Eating and Nutritional Qualities of Rice in Two indica Varieties

An experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of chalkiness on cooking, eating and nutrition qualities of rice using Gangyou 527 （indica hybrid rice） and Zhaiyeqing 8 （conventional indica rice） as materials. Compared with the milled rice without chalkiness, amylose content, final viscosity, setback and consistence increased significantly, while gel consistence, peak viscosity and breakdown decreased remarkably and other RVA values did not have significant changes in the chalky rice of Gangyou 527. The differences in the above indices between the chalky and non-chalky rice was not remarkable in Zhaiyeqing 8. The crude protein content of chalky rice in Zhaiyeqing 8 was significantly lower than that of non-chalky rice, but there was no remarkable change between the chalky and non-chalky rice in Gangyou 527. Glutelin content fell significantly, and albumin, globulin, prolamine and lysine contents did not change significantly in chalky rice compared with non-chalky rice in the two varieties.

Genome-Wide Association Study of Cooked Rice Textural Attributes and Starch Physicochemical Properties in indica Rice

Rice cooking and eating qualities(CEQ)are mainly determined by cooked rice textural parameters and starch physicochemical properties.However,the genetic bases of grain texture and starch properties in rice have not been fully understood.We conducted a genome-wide association study for apparent amylose content(AAC),starch pasting viscosities,and cooked rice textural parameters using 279 indica rice accessions from the 3000 Rice Genome Project.We identified 26 QTLs in the whole population and detected single nucleotide polymorphisms(SNPs)with the lowest P-value at the Waxy(Wx)locus for all traits except pasting temperature and cohesiveness.Additionally,we detected significant SNPs at the SUBSTANDARD STARCH GRAIN6(SSG6)locus for AAC,setback(SB),hardness,adhesiveness,chewiness(CHEW),gumminess(GUM),and resilience.We subsequently divided the population using a SNP adjacent to the Waxy locus,and identified 23 QTLs and 12 QTLs in two sub-panels,WxT and WxA,respectively.In these sub-panels,SSG6 was also identified to be associated with pasting parameters,including peak viscosity,hot paste viscosity,cold paste viscosity,and consistency viscosity.Furthermore,a candidate gene encoding monosaccharide transporter 5(OsMST5)was identified to be associated with AAC,breakdown,SB,CHEW,and GUM.In total,39 QTLs were co-localized with known genes or previously reported QTLs.These identified genes and QTLs provide valuable information for genetic manipulation to improve rice CEQ.

Changes in Activities of Glutamine Synthetase during Grain Filling and Their Relation to Rice Quality

Four japonica rice varieties differed in cooking and eating qualities were used in a pot experiment to study the relationship between the activities of glutamine synthetase during grain filling and rice quality. The activities of glutamine synthetase gradually increased and then declined as a single peak curve in the course of grain filling. The 15th day after heading was a turning point, before which the enzymatic activities in the inferior rice varieties with high protein content were higher than those in the superior rice varietie with low protein content, and after which it was converse. The activity of glutamine synthetase in grain was correlated with the taste meter value, peak viscosity and breakdown negatively at the early stage of grain filling whereas positively at the middle and late stages. Moreover, it was correlated with the protein content of rice grain and setback positively at the early stage and negatively at the middle and late stages. The correlation degree varied with the course of grain filling. From 15 days to 20 days after heading was a critical stage, in which the direction of correlation between the activity of glutamine synthetase and taste meter value and RVA properties of rice changed.

Relationship Between Root Chemical Signals and Grain Quality of Rice

This study was designed to elucidate the relationship between root chemical signals and the quality of rice. Various rice genotypes were used. Zeatin （Z） ＋ zeatin riboside （ZR）, abscisic acid （ABA）, 1-aminocylopropane -1-carboxylic acid （ACC）, and organic acids in roots during grain filling and the appearance quality, cooking/eating quality were investigated. The correlations among them were analyzed. The results showed that Z ＋ ZR concentrations in the roots at mid- and lategrain-filling stages were significantly and positively correlated with the gel consistency and alkali spreading value （r = 0.72^＊ - 0.90^＊＊）, whereas negatively correlated with the amylose content （r = -0.68^＊ - -0.78^＊＊）. ABA concentrations in roots at mid- grain-filling stage were significantly and negatively correlated with the gel consistency and alkali spreading value （r = -0.90^＊＊-0.91^＊＊）, and positively correlated with the amylose content （r = 0.87^＊＊）. ACC concentrations in root exudates at mid-grain-filling stage were very significantly correlated with the percentage of chalky grains and chalkiness （r = 0.97^＊＊ - 0.98^＊＊）, and those at late-grain-filling stage Were significantly correlated with chalkiness and chalky size （r = 0.69^＊ - 0.96^＊＊）. The more the malic acid and succinic acid exuded from roots for a cultivar, the greater the breakdown values and the smaller the setback values in the starch profile, and the results were reversed for a cultivar with more tartaric acid and citric acid exuded from roots during the grain-filling period. The cultivar with more lactic acid in exudates had smaller gel consistency and alkali spreading values, but had greater amylose content. When roots were treated with exogenous ZR, ABA, and ACC during grain filling, effects of the chemicals on the rice quality were consistent with the relationships of the endogenous hormones （Z ＋ ZR, ABA, and ACC） with the quality indexes. Using rape cake as organic fertilizer can increase the concentrations of malic acid and succinic acids exuded from roots as well as the breakdown value in starch profile and reduce the setback value. The results suggest that root chemical signals play important roles in the formation of rice quality, and dee quality could be improved through regulating the signals.

Effects of High Temperature and Strong Light Combine Stress on Yield and Quality of Early Indica Rice with Different Amylose Content during Grout Filling

High temperature(HT)accompanied with strong light(SL)often occurs in early indica rice production during grout filling stage in Southern China,which accelerates grain ripening.Two indica rice cultivars with different amylose content(Zhongjiazao17,ZJZ17,high amylose content;Xiangzaoxian45,XZX45,low amylose content)were grown under control(CK),HT,and HT+SL conditions during grout filling to determine the effects on grain yield and quality of rice.The results showed that compared with CK,HT and HT+SL significantly reduced the 1000-grain weight and filled grain rate whether in high or low amylose content early indica rice cultivars during grout filling,resulting in a significantly lower grain yield.Meanwhile,HT and HT+SL significantly decreased the milled rice rate,brown rice rate and head rice rate,whereas significantly increased chalky rate and chalky degree;and breakdown decreased and setback,pasting temperature increased in the cultivars,leading to the poor processing,appearance and cooking and eating quality of early indica rice cultivars.Compared with HT,the yield of ZJZ17 was significantly decreased under HT+SL,due to the lower 1000-grain weight.However,the effect of HT+SL on rice quality varied in the cultivars.In general,the yield and rice quality of ZJZ17 were relatively poor under HT+SL.Our results suggested that HT and HT+SL during grout filling had significant damage to the yield and quality of early indica rice cultivars,especially HT+SL,while the high amylose cultivar ZJZ17 showed a higher negative effect under HT+SL.